JN Foundation Awards 37 GSAT Scholarships

The 2017 JN Foundation GSAT Award Recipients.

The JN Foundation has awarded five-year scholarships to 37 students, in recognition of their outstanding performance in this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).  The awards mark the 35^th year since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in which hundreds of students, including some at the tertiary level, have benefitted.

Maureen Duckie, a shopkeeper of Sevens Road in May Pen, pointed out that she was grateful for the scholarship award to her daughter, Jada Duckie, who scored 98.8 percent in the GSAT.

“I can’t thank JN enough for the scholarship, because I was able to purchase her books and uniform to go back to school.  It was an answer to my prayer. I’m feeling so good about it.   God bless JN,” she said.

Jada received the second highest score in the parish of Clarendon, which earned her a place at Glenmuir High, the school of her first choice.  Like her mother, she is happy to be a scholarship recipient.

“I cannot believe that I had done so well to receive a scholarship. Leading up to the GSAT I didn’t sleep comfortably because I was petrified by the sound of gunshots, which I heard frequently. I’m so honoured and thankful.  I know a lot is expected of me and without a doubt, I will continue to work hard to make my parents proud,” she stated.

Rose Miller, grants manager at the JN Foundation, explained that the JN Foundation welcomes the opportunity to fund the scholarships, annually.

“We believe that funding education is an investment in our people, and by extension, in our country. Empowering our young people to achieve academically is a step in the right direction to assist us to achieve the National 2030 Vision of making, ‘Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business.’ And, these students will soon be at the forefront of the development of our country.  Therefore, our aim to do all we can to nurture their minds and to equip them to become successful citizens.”

She noted that with the renewal of the GSAT scholarships annually, more than 100 students at the secondary level; and 16 students at the tertiary level, attending The University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, Jamaica, Northern Caribbean University, and the University College of the Commonwealth receive assistance to pursue their studies.

The Ministry of Education identifies the recipients of the parish and JN Schools Savers’ scholarships based on their performance; and employees are encouraged to apply on behalf of their children, once they attain a minimum average of 85 per cent.

Students are required to maintain at least a 70 percent average, for the renewal of the award, annually.  At the tertiary level, with the exemption of the scholarship award to the University College of the Commonwealth, which is reserved for a JN employee, The JN Foundation’s one-year tertiary scholarship can be accessed through the scholarship office at the above-mentioned universities.

This year’s GSAT Parish Scholarship Recipients are: Anastasia Fraser, Ashleigh James, Domonick Lewis, Erica Stewart, Gabrielle Brown, Harshita Relwani, Jada Duckie, Jahalia Troupe, Joanna Hill, Johannes Smith, Kona Cunningham, Renee Henry, Theresa Whyte, Tomboy Allen, Trev-Ann Cameron and Vashti Tracey.

The JN School Savers Awardees are: Rihanna Williams, Tamara Burton and Taniesha Sanderson.

The JN Employees’ Children Recipients are: Alanna Tam, Anna Campbell, Carli-Ann Sharpe, Christian Colyard, Darren Fender, Hannah Hepburn, Jakaylia Patterson, Jayla Walcott, Kael Fearon, Kallece Nichols, Kyla Nightingale, Makayla Harris, Malique Flowers, Matthew Morgan, Misheka Smith, Olivia Campbell, Omarian Allen and Rihanna Blake.

On September 9, they will be officially recognised as JN Scholars at a special Awards Reception.